No more Green deals, says Labor

LABOR has promised that it will never again do a deal with the Greens, in a last-ditch effort to win back its traditional supporters before the March 15 election.

Premier Lara Giddings yesterday announced the March 15 poll date after sacking the two Greens ministers, triggering the end of the four-year power-sharing deal.

Despite describing it as a ``good government'', she has promised that she will never again give Greens a seat at the cabinet table.

``We've come to a logical end to this arrangement,'' Ms Giddings said.

In March, she told a public forum that she would ``absolutely'' have Greens in cabinet again, describing it as the most stable form of minority government, but she has come under immense pressure from Labor powerbrokers urging a permanent divorce from the minor party.

``I can understand that people would be sceptical about what I say here today, but since [March] I have been out doorknocking across the state, I have been talking to Labor Party members, I have been talking importantly to Labor Party supporters in our heartland in every electorate in Tasmania, and I can say to you that the vast majority of those people have said to me: `Lara, you've got to get rid of the Greens'.

``Our support for a pulp mill and industries like mining and aquaculture also means Labor's vision for Tasmania's future is very different from that of the Greens.''

Leg 1Polling suggests breaking from the Greens will help Labor hang on to a handful of extra seats.

Greens leader Nick McKim, who held the key education portfolio, said he was disappointed for Tasmanians, while his Greens colleague Cassy O'Connor was confident that they would not be the last Greens ministers.

``Politics has won the day here,'' Mr McKim said.

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said the Liberal Party was the only one that could deliver majority government.